Overseas exposure to Korea University.
What does it take to secure one of NUS’s most prestigious scholarships without a traditional academic background? For NUS Global Merit Scholar and Year 2 undergraduate Darren Ong, the answer lay not in the route he took but in everything he did along the way.
Discover how he overcame his challenges and how the scholarship eventually opened doors to diverse experiences beyond the classroom.
Fuelled by Curiosity
At a young age, my curiosity about how things work led me to first experiment with recipes and analyse the process against results. Later, when my network engineer father introduced me to computers, it further sparked my interest in the field of computer science.
That spark became a foundation. At Temasek Polytechnic, where I majored in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics, I went beyond learning theory. I configured networks, joined IT competitions like NetAcad and WorldSkills ITNSA, tutored juniors, and led nationwide student initiatives. Through these experiences, I saw that computing was not just about making something run, but also about serving people.
Although I had other overseas offers, I eventually chose NUS to further my education because I wanted to grow alongside Singapore’s technology ecosystem and stay connected to it. NUS Computer Science offers the depth I was looking for in algorithms, systems, artificial intelligence, software engineering, and security.
NUS Global Merit Scholarship: Bond-Free and Endless Opportunities
Choosing to apply for the NUS Global Merit Scholarship was both practical and personal. It is bond-free and allows me to study without worrying about the financial burden on my family. The support gave me room to breathe, take academic risks, and focus on making the most of university life.
The scholarship also felt meaningful because of my unconventional path. I came through the polytechnic route without an O-Level certificate (via the Polytechnic Foundation Programme). For a long time, I wondered whether that would always make me seem like an outsider in academic spaces.
Importantly, it also opened doors to overseas exposure, such as my Korea University stint, where I experienced a different learning culture. In the upcoming one-year NOC Silicon Valley programme, I will be learning about entrepreneurship and the start-up ecosystem. These experiences abroad matter because computing is shaped by global influences, not by one country alone.
Receiving this scholarship affirmed that a different route does not mean it is lesser.
Focus on Authenticity and Non-Academic Contributions
The selection process involved a written submission and a panel interview. I was nervous because my route did not look traditional compared to other applicants from A-Level or International Baccalaureate backgrounds.
Eventually, I decided to be authentic in my application. I highlighted my Temasek Polytechnic experiences, such as cybersecurity competitions, systems work, student leadership, and research opportunities. Beyond the classroom, I also shared how I organised cybersecurity initiatives for students and worked on encryption research because I cared about protecting sensitive healthcare data.
I believe I was awarded the scholarship because I showed that I was not only chasing grades. My experiences were spread across academics, leadership, research, service, and technical work.
The NUS Experience – More than a School
So far, my experience has been intense and exciting in a good way. Over the past two years, NUS has been more than a school to me; it is an integral part of my journey in discovering myself as a builder, researcher, leader, and Singaporean!
Beyond the core curriculum, I participated in DSTA’s Cyber Defenders Discovery Camp, placing among the top teams out of over 400 participating teams — an experience that kept me close to the hands-on cybersecurity work I enjoy. Concurrently, I am interning at DSO as a mobile security researcher and taking on Orbital, the School of Computing’s self-driven programming summer course, each experience pushing me to grow in different directions.
On the community front, I serve as Head of Publications and Communications for Strix, connecting Ridge View Residential College residents through storytelling. I am also working with Ms. Mrinalini Venkatachalam, President of OneSingapore, and Mr. Arthur Chin, Executive Director of The Food Bank Singapore, on technology initiatives related to food wastage and youth involvement. This work is a reminder that the skills I am building at NUS have real-world impact.
DARREN ONG
NUS Global Merit Scholarship
Bachelor of Computing, National University of Singapore, Year 2